MORE than 50 clubs, community groups and businesses will pack-out Casterton Town Hall this weekend for the inaugural Casterton Community Expo.
Organised by the Casterton Community Centre, manager Lisa McDonald said the event was a ‘lesson in local’ not just for visitors or newcomers to the town, but for anyone who may not realise just how much their district has to offer.
“We have so many new residents to the area and we regularly held a kind of ‘welcome to Casterton morning tea,” Ms McDonald said.
“But we have realised there are also many residents who have lived here for a long time and may not be aware of all of the goods and services they have right here in their own backyard.
“We have new clubs, businesses and groups popping up that have not had the ability to get themselves out to the broader community, so this is an opportunity for everyone to meet them and see what they’re about.”
Ms McDonald said the expo could also be used as a recruiting opportunity for local organisations.
“Casterton is run by volunteers – there’s not a club or service group or organisation in town that can operate without its volunteers and we know they are in short supply,” she said.
“Whether that’s because people do not know about them, or do not realise they have something great to offer to a local group, this is a chance for groups to talk to people and maybe get them on board for the future.”
Saturday’s expo is purely a public relations exercise for the participants – there is no cost to the groups who participate and no cost to visitors to enter – and Mrs McDonald said there would be no pressure for visitors to spend at any of the stalls.
“This is not a selling opportunity – the groups, businesses and organisations attending have been asked not to bring items for sale or even advertise their sales, but just meet the community,” she said.
“And the event is going to be catered for by our two terrific local service clubs – the Lions and Rotary Club of Casterton will be barbecuing to feed the visitors and we’ll have bottled water and a cuppa on hand, because chatting to all of these great participants is going to be thirsty work!”
Saturday’s expo has social and service clubs, emergency services groups, schools, sporting organisations and more than 15 businesses, on site at the Casterton Town Hall, including Casterton Pharmacy.
“Bek Hamill, who is the pharmacist and co-owner of the chemist will be there after 12.30 to talk to anyone who wants to know about the services the pharmacy offers, which is a great opportunity when the services are being expanded, all the time,” Mrs McDonald said.
The inaugural Casterton Community Expo will be held in the main floor of the Casterton Town Hall from 11am until 3pm, this Saturday, 22 March.
You will find a full ‘mud map’ and list of stall holders inside this edition of The Casterton News, which you can pull out and take with you.
